Ripping

A typical audiophile worry is “Is my rip bit perfect?”
The impact of ripping software is discussed here.

 

Another typical question is “What is the best optical drive to rip my CDs”
The answer is often Plextor.
They do have an excellent reputation but stopped years ago making their own drives.
Today a Plextor is simple a rebadges OEM.

 

Little is known about the accuracy of optical drives from different brands.
However, there is some empirical data.

The AccurateRip database tells you if your rip is accurate or not.
It can be used the other way around too, how many rips are accurate given a certain brand/model.
A list can be found here: CD/DVD Drive Accuracy List 2012